Estate homes plan rejected

Lucy Leach in Beaumont Park where trees including a large blossom tree have been felled.

Published:19:30Sunday 25 November 2012

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Controversial plans for two new homes to be built on a private estate in Lancaster have been turned down by the city council.

Residents on Beaumont Park, off Slyne Road, had said the proposals for two two-bedroom houses were “inappropriate” and would destroy green space.

Site owners Norman Jackson building contractors had originally applied to build four three-bed terraced starter homes on the land.

Trees were chopped down to make way for the scheme – but it was later withdrawn.

A representative for the company said they would probably appeal the council’s planning committee decision.

Voting was split at the meeting, with the casting vote made by the committee chairman, Coun Keith Budden.

It was agreed the scheme would be contrary to council policy, would lead to open space and was contrary to the scheme’s original design concept.

Ward councillor Janet Hall spoke at the meeting against the application. Several residents wrote to the city council, saying the site already has enough housing, that the scheme would destroy green space and mean more trees were cut down, and also that it would increase traffic.

Of the 147 households on the estate, 126 signed a petition against the scheme.

One homeowner, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s just totally inappropriate and to the detriment of the whole estate. They chopped down a lot of trees for the other application which turned out to be for nothing because they then withdrew the plans, and now they will need to chop more down for this one.”